SINGAPORE — It was a sign of things to come. Days after effigies of Singapore billionaire and Valencia CF owner Peter Lim, club president Chan Lay Hoon, and head coach Gary Neville were burnt in bonfires at “Las Fallas”, the Spanish city’s annual festival of fire, the club decided to part ways with their coach.

In a media statement late on Wednesday night (March 30),  the Spanish La Liga club said they have “parted company” with Neville and have appointed his assistant Pako Ayestaran as interim head coach for the rest of the  season.

Valencia fans were reportedly upset with Lim, Chan and Neville for the sliding fortunes of their club, now 14th in the 20-team Spanish league and six points above relegation zone.

“After careful consideration, the club have decided to make a change with the best interests of Valencia CF moving forward this season,” the stament read.

“We thank Gary for his work at Valencia and wish them the best in the future.”

Neville acknowledged that results  - 10 wins, seven draws and 11 defeats - meant he had to go.

“I would have liked to continue the work I started but understand that we are in a results business and in the 28 games, they have not been to my standards, or those required by this club,” the Englishman said.

Valencia fans were initially surprised when Neville, with no managing experience save for his role as England assistant coach, was appointed by Lim, who is also his friend, to be head coach.

But their faith in Neville, whose younger brother Phil was already working as an assistant coach at Valencia, was soon eroded by the  poor results that caused the club to slip to 14th in the league.

Photos and videos of the burning of life-sized effigy of Lim — in a Valencia CF football kit with his hands on his hips — at the “Las Fallas” festival were found on
social media sites and video-sharing platforms such as YouTube.

Despite claims by Valencia-based sports journalists that there was nothing sinister about the burning of the effigies during the two-week festival, it seems that the patience towards Neville’s disappointing 28-game reign has run dry.

The “Las Fallas” festival saw each neighbourhood in Valencia parading their “ninots” (or Valencian puppets) before burning them in bonfires.
Radio journalist Chema Mancha, who hosts the talk show El Taller

Deportivo, told TODAY: “During Las Fallas, they burn everybody who is famous. They burn the people they like, and don’t like.”

According to news reports and videos, there were also effigies of Pope Francis and Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy.

Lim and Chan were not perturbed by the burnings.

Answering TODAY’s queries on their behalf, Valencia CF’s chief communications officer Damian Vidagany said: “In the Valencian culture, it is an honour to be part of Las Fallas.

“Those chosen to be depicted as ‘ninots’ are usually people who command a lot of attention in the public’s eyes.”

It is clear, however, that Valencia fans have grown increasingly unhappy with the club’s rapid descent under Neville.

Boos and chants of “donkey” and “Gary go now” have been heard at home matches.

“I don’t think fans forget that easily the investment made by Lim,” said Valencia-based journalist Paco Polit, referring to Lim’s purchase of a 70.4 per cent stake in the then-near-bankrupt club in a €420 million (S$642.7 million) deal in May 2014.

“They do think the sport area is being poorly managed, though.

“The appointment of Neville, who has no experience in coaching, rang a couple of bells, but the alarms have definitely gone off over Valencia’s dismal streak in La Liga.

“Valencia are now shamefully fighting to avoid relegation.

“Fans demand someone to explain what’s going on, but the silence from Lim and his team only leads to mistrust and suspicion.”

Local fan David Alma said : “Most supporters are happy with Lim.

“We are just hoping for more commitment from the management.”